Thursday

If you love wine or beer and feel a need to escape cabin fever, you’re in luck.

Thanks to the region's many wineries and craft breweries, there are lots of reasons to venture out in the coming weeks — including this weekend's Wine & Chocolate Weekend and Saturday's Brewer's Cup Home Brew Fest.

But that's just a small sip. Here is a closer look at a few big wine and beer events on tap:

Wine & Chocolate Weekend

If you love both wine and chocolate (and seriously, who doesn't), then hopefully you have already purchased tickets for Lake Erie Wine Country’s Wine & Chocolate Weekend, taking place this Friday through Sunday. Every year, the event sells out, and 2018 is sure to be no different.

“Wine & Chocolate Weekend is a remarkable event because it gives people a rare chance to purely treat themselves, friends and loved ones in a decadently delicious way,” said Shaun Patrick Smith, president and CEO of Lake Erie Wine Country. “What more is there really to life than great wine, sumptuous chocolate and fantastic company?”

Sponsored by Pulako’s Chocolates, the weekend-long event takes place across Lake Erie Wine Country, giving guests an opportunity to enjoy wine and chocolate food pairings at six different wineries across the trail.

The key words there are “chocolate food pairings,” meaning recipes that utilize chocolate. Many of the items are sweet, but there are also always at least a few savory options, too.

In addition to the pairings, attendees will receive a booklet containing all of the recipes of the featured dishes, a Lake Erie Wine Country wine glass and a $5 voucher to use at any winery or designated restaurants.

Details: Friday, noon to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at participating wineries in Erie County and western New York. Limited tickets are $38 for all three days; $28 for Friday or Sunday only; and $20 for designated drivers. For details, call 877-326-6561 or visit www.lakeeriewinecountry.org.

Brewer’s Cup Home Brew Fest

It’s hard to believe that the Brewer’s Cup started more than a decade ago at The Brewerie at Union Station. And, obviously, the craft beer community has grown considerably since the first incarnation of the event.

“We started the Brewer’s Cup 11 years ago, not as a festival, but as a reason for a few home brewers to get together to sample their beers,” said Chris Sirianni, owner of Brewerie. “I’m pretty sure only 12 people showed up that Saturday afternoon.”

It's safe to say that far more will be in attendance this coming Saturday, and it’s easy to see why. At just $25, the event is a bargain for beer lovers looking to sample some truly new brews.

“There will be nearly 70 beers that you’ve never had before and 70 that you’ll probably never have again," Sirianni said. "It really is a unique sampling experience with some exceptional beers made by some really cool people."

Details: Saturday, 5 to 8 p.m. at the Brewerie at Union Station, 123 W. 14th St. Admission is $25. For more details, call 454-2200 or visit www.brewerie.com.

Wine on the Lake

With more than 30 participating wineries, next weekend's Wine on the Lake has gained a reputation as the region’s premier winter wine festival.

But it’s more than that. The festival is also filled with craft and gift vendors, and there is no shortage of high-quality food options. And this year, live music will be provided throughout the day by The DuoTones — an acoustic guitar duo known for a combination of blues, jazz, rock and folk — as well as the duo of singer Dinah and guitarist Mark G.

In recent years, attendance for the event has measured in the thousands, but a shuttle does run back and forth from Liberty Park to the Bayfront Convention Center, so parking won't be a problem.

Details: Feb. 24, 1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m., at the Bayfront Convention Center, 1 Sassafras Pier. General admission is $35-$40; VIP tickets for both sessions are sold out. For details, visit www.wineonthelake.com.

Erie Micro Brew Fest

One of the few craft beer events to have been in existence longer than the Brewer’s Cup is the Erie Micro Brew Fest, which returns for a 12th year in early April. Once again, the WQLN event is set to feature more than 30 craft breweries serving up some unique samples.

When the event was first developed, craft beer education was one of its intentions, and that remains the case today. While sampling brews, guests are invited to converse with the brewers, and ask any questions they may have.

One added bonus is that the brewers are encouraged to bring at least one rare beer, something unavailable at a grocery store or bottle shop.

Details: April 7, 1 to 4 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m., at The Brewerie at Union Station. Tickets are $35 in advance (or $40 at the door) for either session; $50 for VIP admission to first session; $20 for designated drivers. For more details, visit http://bit.ly/1Q6qGdr.

Wine & Cheese Weekend

Another staple of Lake Erie Wine Country is its Wine & Cheese Weekend, and this year it has an international twist. Each winery’s food option will be representative of a specific country.

Also, just like with Wine & Chocolate Weekend, it’s not just simple cheese and wine pairings: each winery offers a food item that is made with cheese provided by Yancey’s Fancy Cheese, which has been handcrafting fromage in Corfu, New York, for more than 60 years. Pierogi kielbasa casserole, Brazilian cheese bread and German beer-soaked bratwurst are just some of the items that have been offered in the past.

This event also sells out quickly, so interested attendees are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance.

Details: April 20, noon to 5 p.m., and April 21-22, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at participating wineries in Erie County and western New York. Tickets are $38 all three days; $28 for Friday or Sunday only; and $20 for designated drivers. For details, call 877-326-6561 or visit www.lakeeriewinecountry.org.

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